Control for typographical machines.



H. A. ARMSTRONG.

CONTRQL FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11. I916.

41,267, 1 614:. Patented May 21, 191 8.

ATTORNEY HENRY A. ARMSTRONG, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERTYPECORPO- RATION, OF NEW YORK, N. 121, A CQRPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROL FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE-S.

Application filed November 11, 1916.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, HENRY A. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Controls for Typographical Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in line castingmachines, and more especially to those of the linotype class as shown and described in Letters Patent, No. 486,532 granted September 16, 1890 to O. Mergenthaler.

The invention pertains more particularly:

to the castingmechanism of such machines which embody a.mold wheel or disk carrying a plurality of molds, the wheel or'disk being rotatable and also movable to andfro in an aXialdirection during the operation of the machine.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved safety device for disengaging the main driving clutch of the machine should a line of matrices be presented improperly before the mold, the safety device, according to the present invention, embodying simple, reliable and durable means operative to prevent actuation of the. safety device when the mold moves forwardfor the ejection of-the slug casttherein, but permitting operation of the safety device to control the main clutch vwhen the mold moves forward to cast the slug therein.

To these and otherends, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement. of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 represents a section taken from front to back of the casting mechanism of a machine of the linotype class and embodying the improved safety device of the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the casting mechanism.

Similar parts are designated by the same- Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented May; 21, 1918.

Serial No. 130,864.

described in the patent herein referred to. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to such specific use, as it may be applied to machines of other types having the same characteristic movements ofthe mold wheel or disk, and also that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown, as equiyalent constructions are contemplated andwill'be included within the scope of'the claims.

In the present instance, 1 represents the base of the machine on which the various elements are mounted, and 2 represents the main cam shaft which is driven by suitable power, under control of the usual main driving clutch, by a gear 3. As is the case in machines of the linotype class, the slugs or type bars are cast in an appropriate mold carried by a mold wheel or disk 4, this mold Wheel or disk being commonly mounted to rotate on an axis 5, and it is moved to and fro or reciprocated in an-axial direction by a slide 6 which operates in appropriate guides 7, the reciprocating movements of the slide being efiected by a cam S on the main cam shaft and a link 9 which operatively connects the cam and the slide. The; lines of matrices are presented'to the mold by an elevator 10, commonly called the first elevator, this elevator'having a rearwardly projecting head provided with rails 11 between which the line of matrices is suspended. As is usual in machines of this type, the first elevator receives line of matrices while it occupies an intermediate elevated-position, it descends to present the line of matrices in front of the mold, and after a cast has been made the elevator rises to its upper position where the line ofma trices is transferred from this elevator to a second elevator, which latter conveys the matrices to the 'distributer. The necessary movements are imparted to the first elevator by an arm 12 which is operated at appropriate intervals by a cam on the main cam shaft 2. A vise 13 is commonly used to receive the line of matrices when the first elevator'lO is in its lowermost position, andthe vise has jaws which clamp and support the line of matrices in proper position in front of the mold. Usually, the slide of the first elevator 10 is guided on the vise frame 14, and the vise frame is pivoted tov the main frame of the machine on an axis 15 to permitthe vise, vise frame and first elevator to swing forwardly and thereby render accessible the front face of the mold wheel or disk and the molds thereon. In machines of this type usually constructed, the first elevator 10 is carried up positively by a cam on the main cam shaft 2 acting through the arm 12, and this elevator descends by its own weight under the control of such cam. When the elevator reaches the lower limit of its movement, it rests upon the top or cap of the vise 18.

Most machines of the linotype class, except Within recent years, have been constructed with only one or two molds on the mold wheel, and where two molds were used, such molds were positioned at diametrically opposite sides of the mold wheel. In such machines, automatic stopping of the machine, in the event that a line of matrices was improperly presented to the mold in use, owing to there being too many matrices in the line, or for other causes, was effected by a safety device comprising a vertical bar or member 16 having a pin 17 projecting upwardly through an opening in the top or cap of the vise, the bar or member 16'being capable of moving vertically and its lower end being also capable of swinging forwardly and rearwardly, the head of the elevator was provided with a set-screw 18 arranged to bear upon the pin 17 of the bar 16 when the first elevator approached its lower limit of movement, a spring plunger 19 was provided in the vise frame andarranged to be pushed forwardly as the mold advanced to the casting position, and the bar or member 16 was provided with a dog 20 arranged to clear or to be engaged by the plunger 19 according to the vertical position occupied by the bar or member 16. In such arrangements, a spring 21 was used to normally hold the bar or member 16 in its upper or elevated position, and the lower end of the bar or member 16 was arranged to operate upon a lever 22, the latter in turn acting through the link 23 upon the main driving clutch 24:. With such an arrangement, when the first elevator has descended to its lower limit, thereby presenting the matrices properly before the mold, the mold wheel is moved forwardly by the slide 6 and brings the mold into engagement with the line of matrices preparatory to the casting operation. During this forward movement of the mold wheel, the plunger 19 is moved forward and its forward end passes over the dog 20 carried by the bar or member 16. In the event, however, that the elevator does not reach its lowermost position of rest on, the top of the vise, but is held from falling because of a tight line of matrices, or from any other cause, the bar or member 16 will not be lowered suliiciently to carry the dog 20 out of the line of movement of the plunger 19. Therefore, when the mold wheel moves forward, the plunger 19 will be pushed forwardly into engagement with the do 20 and the latter in turn will push forwardly the lower end of the bar or member 16, the latter acting through the lever 22 and the link 23 to disengage the main driving clutch of the machine whereby the operation of the machine is interrupted and the fault may be remedied.

The present invention provides an improved safety device which is applicable to machines of this class using more than one or two molds. In the present instance, the mold wheel or disk 4 is shown provided with four molds M M M and M In machines of this class as heretofore constructed to employ two molds, such molds were opposite to one another and corresponded, for example, to the molds 1 1 and M in the present instance, the mold M being shown in the position which it normally occupies when the machine is at rest and also when the slug is being ejected therefrom. In the operation of the machine, the mold is swung up .by the rotation of the mold wheel to the position occupied by the mold M the casting operation taking place while the mold is in this position. At this time, the other or opposite mold will occupy the position of the mold M and this latter mold will act upon the plunger 19 during the advance of the mold wheel. Should there be no mold opposite to the one in use (as would be the case in using a single mold), a dummy projection was provided on the face of the mold wheel to operate upon the spring plunger 19. In such machines, after the casting operation had been completed, the mold wheel was rotated to the'left in Fig. 2 through three-quarters of a revolution, bringing the mold containing the slug to the ejecting position, the mold M occupying such position in Fig. 2. At this time, the opposite mold occupied the position of the mold M there being no mold on that part of the mold wheel in alinement with the plunger 19 and, in consequence, the forward movement of the mold wheel incident to the ejection of the slug did not actuate the plunger 19 to disengage the main driving clutch, although at such time the first elevator was at or near the upper limit of its stroke and the dog 20 was in readiness to be engaged by the plunger 19. However, where four molds are provided on the mold wheel, there would be a mold in position at this time to act upon the plunger 19 and the plunger 19 would push forwardly the dog 20 and thereby operate to disengage the main driving clutch and arrest the operation of the machine, unless some means were provided for preventing such action at this stage in the cycle of operations. Different devices have been proposed to prevent stopping of the machine at this time, but such devices have proven to be uncertain and unreliable certain in action. It consists of an arm24v fixed :to and extending downwardly from the controlling bar or member 16, it having a rearwardly extending. step. 25 thereon, a lever 26 whichis pivoted to themain frame 27, acam 28 on the main cam shaft 2, the

lever 26.11aving-a roller or projection 29 cooperative with the cam and, asshown, a springBO operates onthe lever 26 tomaintainit. in cooperative relation with thecam. In Fig.- 1, the parts. are shown in the position which they occupyat that period in the operation of the machine where the mold wheel has been movedforward preparatory to the ejection of the. slug from the mold occupying the position of; the mold M in Fig. 2. At this-time, the elevator '10 has ascended to its upper position, the line of matrices has been transferred to the distributing mechanism, and the elevator has begun its descent. The controlling bar or member 16- 2.5 at this period in the operation of-the machine is held down, so that the dog 20 thereon is out of the path of the plunger 19, by the lever 26, the forward endof which bears on the step ofthe arm 24: attached to the bar or member 16,, the lever 26 beingdepressed to perform this function by the portion 31,

of the cam 28, which portion is of maximum radius. In consequence, the ejection of the slug from the mold in use is effected without stoppage of the machine, due to the presence of a mold in position to operate the plunger 19. When the machine returns to its normal position and is again started for the casting of another slug, the casting operation 00- curs while the roller or projection 29 of the lever 26 rests on the portion 32 of the cam 28, this portion of the cam being of slightly less radius, as compared with the portion 31 of the cam. While the roller or projection 29 of the lever 26 rests on this smaller portion 32 of the cam, the forward end of the lever 26 is elevated sufficiently to clear the step 25 of the arm 24- and, as a consequence, the controlling bar or member 16 is then free to act under the control of the elevator and the plunger 19, and should the elevator fail to reach its lower limit of movement, the operation of the machine would be interrupted.

The lever 26 may constitute an additional part of the machine and it may operate only to control the actuation of the bar or member 16. It is advantageous and preferable, however, to employ the lever which usually serves to justify the matrices, as the lever 26, as I have found that the period during which actuation of the bar or member 16 occurs is not concurrent with the period of justification so that the justification lever may perform its usual justification function and, in

addition, it may perform the function-here.- inbefore. ascribed to the lever. 26;

I: claim as. my. invention 1; Ina machineofsthe linotype class. having a. reciprocable. lllOldi disk rotatable. to bring the. mold thereon .in use to casting and ejecting-positions. respectively, and: an elevator operative to convey a lineof'matrices. to casting position relatively-to such. mold, av stopping device for the machinefree to operate a under control. of said elevator. and the, reciprocatory movement: ofthe mold disk while. the: mold. thereon in use is in casting position, and acam operativeto hold said stopping. device. in, inactive. condition while .thermold ElIl .use .isin ej ecting position.

2. Inamachine ofthe linotypeclass hav ing a maincam shaft, amold-carryingdisk rotatable to bringa moldithereon to castingand'ejecting positions. andireciprocable by the main cam shaft while such mold .isin casting andiejecting positions, andran elevator for conveying. a line of matrices to casting position relativelyv to the mold, a stopping device forv themachine controlled by .themovement ofthe elevator and the reciprocatory movement of themold-carrying disk while themold in use is in casting position, andacam on the 'main cam shaftoperative to hold said stopping device in inactivecondition while the mold in use is in ejecting position.

I 3-. In a machine of the linotype class having a. cam shaft, a mold: disk movable to bring a mold ithereon into castingand ejecting positions respectively andalso reciprocable by the cam shaft while the mold in use thereon is in casting and ejecting positions, an elevator for conveying a line of matrices to such mold while the same is in casting position, and justifying means for the matrices, a stopping device for the machine operative under control of the elevator and actuated by reciprocatory movement of the mold disk while the mold thereon in use is in casting position, and a cam operative at one period to cause actuation of the justifying means and operative at another period to hold said stopping device in inactive condition while the mold in use is in ejecting position.

4. In a machine of the linotype class having a stopping device for the machine free to operate under control of the first elevator while the mold in use is in casting position, justifying means including a cam-actuated lever, and a part on the stopping device arranged to be engaged by said lever when the latter is in non-justifying position to prevent operation of said device while the mold in use is in ejecting position.

5. In a machine of the linotype class having a reciprocatory multiple-mold carrier, an elevator for conveying a line of matrices to casting position relatively to the mold in use on said carrier, and a stopping device for the machine free to operate under control of the elevator during reciprocatory movement of the carrier and While the mold thereon is in casting position, and a cam operative to hold said device in inoperative condition While the mold in use is in ejecting position.

6. In a machine of the linotype class having a cam shaft, a mold carrier adapted to bring a mold thereon into casting and ejecting positions respectively, means for conveying a line of matrices to casting'position relatively to said mold carrier, and a justifyinglever, a stopping device for the machine free to operate under control of said matrix-conveying means While the mold is in casting position, and a cam operative from the cam shaft of the machine to cause movement of said lever in one direction to justify the matrices and to cause movement of said lever in a'reverse direction to prevent operation of said stopping device While the mold is in ejecting position.

7 In a machine of the linotype class embodying a mold carrier adapted to bring a mold thereon into casting and ejecting positions respectively, said carrier being reciprocable While the mold is in casting position and also in ejecting position, and a stopping device for the machine movable to and from a position for operation by said reciprocatory movement of the mold carrier, said device being in position to operate While the mold in use is in casting position, means for preventing operation of the stopping device by the reciprocatory movement of the mold carrier While the mold thereon in use is in ejecting position, comprising a cam, and a lever actuated thereby to move the stopping device out of position for'actuation by the mold carrier.

8. In a machine of the linotype class hav-v thereon to and from the first elevator, and a stopping device controlled by the first elevator and operative by the mold carrier, a justification lever having a cam to'operate it, said cam being shaped to actuate said lever to efi'ect justification of matrices in the elevator and to also control the position of the stopping device'When the mold carrier is in position for ejection of the slug from the mold in use thereon.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' HENRY A. ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses: Y THOMAS S. HOMANS, JAMES G. MCNAMARA. 7

cu of thil patent ma'v be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

